CMF, the Nothing sub-brand, adds two more headphones to its roster – a more affordable version of its TWS buds and an advanced neckband design. The CMF Buds cost ₹ 2,500, ₹ 1,000 less than the Pro models (check out our CMF Buds Pro review for more on the original model). Even so, they still support Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) at 42dB (vs. 45dB on the Pros) and have a transparency mode.
The buds connect over Bluetooth 5.3 with
Fast Pair support and have multi-point connectivity and Low Lag gaming mode.
Their divers are 12.4mm with a bio-fibre and custom TPU diaphragm and have been
tuned by Dirac. They use 4 microphones instead of 6. The Buds have a 35.5 hour
battery life (buds + case) and support for fast charging. This is a bit short
of the 39 hours achieved by the Pro models. Their fast charging is better, though
– 10 minutes of charging is enough for 6.5 hours of listening (vs. 5 hours on
the Pros). Both buds are rated IP54 for dust and water
resistance.
The CMF Neckband Pro are a new entry in a
format that has waned since the introduction of the TWS form factor. According
to CMF, these are the best neckband-style headphones yet and they certainly
offer a lot of bang for the buck. At just ₹ 2,000 they are cheaper than even the
vanilla CMF Buds Pro but offer much better ANC – 50dB with 5 microphones.
Battery life is solid too lasting up to 37 hours of non-stop listening (with
ANC off, 23 hours with it enabled). A 10-minute charge is all you will need for
the day as it promises 18 hours of listening time (with ANC off).
These also feature Bluetooth 5.3 with Fast
Pair and multi-point connectivity. They even feature 360° Spatial Audio Effect.
The Neckband Pro have better water resistance with an IP55 rating and have
magnets in the buds so they can securely snap around your neck. This also
automatically triggers play/pause, but you can also use the Smart Dial. The
dial controls the volume, play/pause, can skip racks and control ANC. You can
customize the actions in the Nothing X app.
In India, the CMF Buds will be sold
through Flipkart, Myntra, Croma and Vijay Sales from March 8. The Neckband Pro
will go on sale on the 11th. Note that there will be a ₹ 200 discount at launch.
Later this month the CMF Buds and Neckband Pro will launch in multiple regions
around the world too. In the UK, they will be in the Nothing Store Soho from
March 9 (Saturday), but in other EU regions they go on pre-order on the 12th
and open sales start on the 18th.
